The match was played at Victoria College, Jersey
on Sunday 15th August 1976
for the Players Gold Leaf Trophy
Umpires K G Clayton (Guernsey) and Dr R L Osment (Jersey)
Scorers R Gauvain (Guernsey) and H W Hall (Jersey)
Toss won by Guernsey who elected to field
Match drawn

Jersey innings

Runs

Balls

Mins

4s

6s

SR

Guernsey bowling

Ov

Mdn

Runs

Wkts

W

Nb

SR

ER

+J Holmes

st

Fooks

b

Le Lievre

62

-

95

9

0

Le Cocq

17

4

43

3

0

0.0

34.0

2.5

D R Billingham

c

Mountford

b

Creed

2

-

20

0

0

Creed

10

2

49

1

0

0

60.0

4.9

D E Faux

b

Le Cocq

57

-

106

6

1

Anthony

9

0

48

0

0

3

5.3

N Fage

lbw

b

Le Cocq

4

-

24

0

0

Barrett

19

0

90

0

0

0

4.7

D C Hunt

c

Fooks

b

Le Cocq

39

-

62

3

1

Le Lievre

10

0

36

1

0

0

60.0

3.6

*M J Weaver

not

out

84

-

69

14

0

R T G Pollard

not

out

18

-

11

1

2

P Le Cras

dnb

R Hill

dnb

R Allott

dnb

B Middleton

dnb

Extras (b2, lb2, w0, nb3)

7

Total (for 5 wkts dec. in 65 overs)

273

Fall of wickets

1-18(Billingham),2-103(Holmes),3-128(Fage),4-137(Faux),5-250(Hunt)

Guernsey innings

Runs

Balls

Mins

4s

6s

SR

Jersey bowling

Ov

Mdn

Runs

Wkts

W

Nb

SR

ER

H J M Davey

c

Holmes

b

Allott

23

-

37

3

0

Middleton

9

3

41

1

1

2

54.0

4.6

A Lewis

c

Allott

b

Middleton

6

-

25

0

0

Allott

13

2

52

1

0

0

78.0

4.0

W E R Barrett

b

Fage

75

-

105

10

1

Hill

11

0

38

0

0

2

3.5

*R W Mills

b

Fage

61

-

97

9

0

Le Cras

6

0

18

0

0

0.0

3.0

M C C Webber

not

out

10

-

34

0

0

Fage

8

1

34

2

0

0

24.0

4.3

P L Le Cocq

not

out

12

-

29

1

0

Weaver

1

0

4

0

0

0

4.0

H A J Mountford

dnb

J R Le Lievre

dnb

+M A Fooks

dnb

R E H Anthony

dnb

A R Creed

dnb

Extras (b10, lb12, w1, nb4)

27

Total (for 4 wkts in 48 overs)

214

Fall of wickets

1-24(Lewis),2-34(Davey),3-185(Barrett),4-186(Mills)

PREVIEW

Press on Thursday 12th Aug‘Guernsey on threshold of a major hat-trick’ by John Le Poidevin

Guernsey seek an unprecedented hat-trick of wins when they travel to play Jersey in the annual inter-insular cricket match on Sunday. Who would have thought this possible three or four years ago?Victory for either side was then thought to be nigh impossible – the argument being that both Guernsey and Jersey were always strong enough to at least avoid defeat. Limited overs cricket was then very much the talking point; with the Guernsey camp pressing for its introduction. The traditionalism of Jersey held firm, and won the day. Before they gloated about the ‘victory’ it is worth noting that Guernsey now stand on the threshold of their third successive victory because they took risks to ensure a result.The perfect example is last year when Guernsey won a low scoring game at College Field. Island skipper Ricky Mills won the toss and took a chance by putting Jersey in to bat. His decision showed that he was sufficiently confident that Guernsey could not lose – that Jersey would not score sufficient runs quickly enough to declare and allow their bowlers time to dismiss Guernsey.Will Mills again put Jersey in to bat if he calls correctly at the Victoria College Field? Obviously conditions on the day will have to be taken into account. But if, as seems likely in this dry weather, the wicket plays well I think he will take the risk to seek victory.What sort of team has he got at his disposal? One, obviously, that suits him because the Guernsey way of doing things is much better than in the opposing camp. Once the Guernsey captain is selected he goes onto the selection committee. And if his colleagues have any sense the captain’s viewpoint will be adhered to in almost every instance.Most of the Guernsey side selected itself – Mills, Alan Lewis, Henry Davey, Warren Barratt, Mick Fooks, Pierre Le Cocq and Mike Webber, in my view, being certainties.Andy Creed also booked a place with his showing against Northamptonshire and few would argue with the selection of Ralph Anthony – his bowling against the county players also proving he is good enough for the island.John Mountford and John Le Lievre gained the other places and I believe controversy would reign only with their selection. Bryan Preston would probably have got my vote, and I would have given very serious consideration to Miles Dobson who has bowled really well this season.However since there is already a sound balance of pace with Le Cocq, who can bowl a good line and length for most of the day if necessary, Creed and the left-arm Anthony, Dobson would have been left out of the eleven.The final choice would have been Mountford for Le Lievre. Was it necessary to have the spin of Le Lievre to compliment that of Barrett? I don’t think Le Lievre will trouble Jersey batsmen too much, in fact I doubt if he will be called upon to bowl much, unless it is a real spinner’s wicket. Mountford would have got my nod. In favour of both Mountford and Le Lievre is the fact that they are superb fieldsmen and more than useful batsmen. If they are to be regarded as the ‘weak links’ of the team then all I can say is that it’s a pretty formidable side. I rate it a stronger one than Jersey’s and must confess to being happy that the Jersey selectors have left out Peter Osment.Guernsey batsmen will be hard pressed to combat the pace of Richard Allott but I don’t think the Jersey attack is sufficiently strong to dismiss the Sarnian batsmen cheaply. Jersey batsmen, in turn, will have more confidence having beaten GICC recently. But they should take account of the fact that Le Cocq, Creed and Anthony were not bowling against them on that occasion. Also that the full Guernsey team will probably set them a bigger run target than did GICC.My forecast is that Guernsey will not be beaten. But the odds must be on the draw.Teams: Guernsey; Ricky Mills, Warren Barrett, Pierre Le Cocq, Mick Fooks, Mike Webber, Alan Lewis, John Le Lievre, Henry Davey, Andy Creed, John Mountford, Ralph Anthony.

Press on Monday 16th Aug‘Superb batting in predictable draw in Jersey’ by John Le Poidevin

The result of the inter-island cricket match yesterday was as predictable as the hot weather and the hard wicket. There was no way either side could dismiss the other cheaply on a beautiful batting wicket at Victoria College field, and a draw was inevitable.This denied Guernsey a hat-trick of wins in the Gold Leaf Cup series, but not without a bold attack.As expected Guernsey skipper Ricky Mills put Jersey in to bat. He knew the wicket was full of runs but was betting on a repeat of last year when Guernsey bowled out Jersey and left enough time to win. I imagine he was hoping to dismiss Jersey in something like 3½ hours for not much more than 200 runs.Jersey would not be led to the slaughter and produced an innings of real character. Left-handed opening batsman John Holmes – who caused the Guernsey bowlers some heartache earlier this season – was in fine form and produced a string of wonderful shots. His knock of 62 and a delightful innings by Jersey captain Mike Weaver enables Weaver to declare the Jersey innings at 273 for 5. This left Guernsey a formidable task with only 95 minutes plus 20 overs to bat.Victory was not a serious possibility but so competent were the batsmen that for a few overs near the end they had the Guernsey supporters hoping. It was an exciting stage in which every run scored by Warren Barrett and Ricky Mills was vigorously applauded by the strong contingent.When those two were out however it was too much to ask of the remaining batsmen and the draw arrived with Guernsey 60 short of the target. It was not a great game but there was some superb batting by players of both sides.Bowlers had a bad time and it must be recorded that there was more indifferent bowling than in any previous match in the series. One other depressing fact was the appalling fielding of the Guernsey side. Five quite straightforward catches fell to the ground.To the more attractive moment’s of the day’s play. Holmes batted serenely after losing his partner Dave Billingham to a good catch by John Mountford at short leg to give young Andy Creed his first wicket against Jersey. The batsman had survived an edged shot off Le Cocq to Henry Davey.Don Faux joined Holmes and they took the score to 103, during which Holmes was dropped deep at midwicket by Mountford and Faux by Le Cocq at gully, and later by Mike Webber on the square leg boundary.Wicketkeeper Mick Fooks broke the partnership with a smart piece of stumping off the slow bowling of Le Lievre. The batsman was very unhappy about the decision which was given by the Jersey umpire.Holmes had struck nine fours in his 95-minute innings. Norman Fage was trapped leg before by Pierre Le Cocq in the last over before lunch, which was taken with Jersey handily placed at 128 for 3.Faux went out in similar fashion soon after the break for a solid 57, and he made way for an on-form Weaver, who set about the bowling immediately; his first four scoring shots were boundaries. He dominated a 113 partnership in which David Hunt gave him the bowling. The Jersey captain played some delightful drives off the front foot and demoralised the Guernsey bowlers.Weaver timed his declaration knowing that he could not allow Guernsey any more time, yet that he did not have a real chance to dismiss them.The opening Jersey overs were very lively. Barry Middleton tested Henry Davey and Alan Lewis with some short pitched deliveries which whizzed about their ears. It was not sensible bowling; it merely helped to take the shine off the ball. He did produce a good delivery to get Lewis caught off his gloves from a sharp rising ball, and just before tea Henry Davey was caught behind off a good delivery by Richard Allott.After that the match belonged to Barrett and Mills, who first made the match safe and refused to be tempted by even the most inviting deliveries of Philip Le Cras.With the mandatory 20 overs left, they decided – at 110 for 2 – they would ‘give it a go’. Eighteen off one of Middleton’s overs, all scored by Barrett, set them on the way, and going at the required rate of eight an over they reached a point where 97 were needed with 12 overs to go. Accurate bowling by Norman Fage dismissed both of them, Barrett for 75 and Mills for 61, and then it was a case of playing out time.

Jersey Post Bill CustardIt was the 13th drawn game since the inception of the series in 1950